A/HRC/45/CRP.11
OLHP intended to capture two alleged criminals operating in the sector, but it seems they
managed to escape before the operation began.2182
1223. Digital information confirms that State forces deployed considerable logistical and
human resources in the operation. According to one estimate, there were 240 officers
deployed.2183 The Mission has verified videos showing dozens of PNB officers (including the
Anti-Drug and Intelligence and Strategy Directorates), the GNB (including CONAS), the
CICPC and the DGCIM in various points of the sector.2184
1224. Some wore official vests over civilian clothes. Others were in uniform with helmets,
protective shields and balaclavas. They carried short firearms (Beretta 92CF and 92FS
pistols, Glock 17 with long magazine) and long firearms (Colt M-4A1, Cavim Orinoco IItype rifles with silencer and H&K MP5, with and without silencer). The videos also depict
vans with CICPC and PNB official logos, along with dozens of motorcycles. 2185
1225. In one video verified and geo-located by the Mission,2186 six snipers were seen
stationed in one of the neighbourhood homes and dozens of young men can be observed
being detained, some with their faces covered with T-shirts, others barefoot.2187 The video
also captures the arrest of a woman amidst the male detainees. 2188 The video shows security
forces carrying the dead body of a man by the ankles and wrists, before dumping it into the
flatbed of a truck.2189 The man’s body is partially covered by a white sheet. The security
forces carrying him appeared to belong to the PNB and have “Dirección de Inteligencia
Estratégica” written on the back of their vests. 2190
1226. During the operation, DGCIM agents could be seen wearing skull masks, some black
and others green, supposedly to protect their identity.2191 These images featured heavily in
media broadcasts, prompting CICPC director, Douglas Rico, to issue a directive prohibiting
CICPC officers from covering their faces during acts of service, “since this generates distrust
in the community and often protects police malpractice. The transparency of our work goes
hand in hand with our personal and institutional image”.2192
1227. According to a news outlet, when the OLHP was over, nine people had been killed
and more than 60 detained.2193 Several witnesses reported damage to their properties.2194
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
242
RunRun.es, Nueve muertos y 50 detenidos tras despliegue de OLP en los Jardines del Valle, 10
March 2017, available at: https://runrun.es/nacional/venezuela-2/300395/al-menos-9-abatidos-y-50detenidos-tras-despliegue-de-olp-en-los-jardines-de-el-valle/.
Noticiero Venevisión, Ultimaron a ocho antisociales durante OLHP en El Valle, 10 March 2017,
minute 0:24, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWQtiCoF1g. See also: Globovisión,
OLP deja siete delincuentes abatidos y 16 detenidos en El Valle, minute 1:44, 10 March 2017,
available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti6cs5lAyK4.
Compilation of videos on file with the Mission.
Iguana TV, Imágenes exclusivas comando OLHP en El Valle, 10 March 2017, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-McSzvlLCg. See videos published by the journalist Román
Camacho on his twitter account, available at https://runrun.es/nacional/venezuela-2/300395/al-menos9-abatidos-y-50-detenidos-tras-despliegue-de-olp-en-los-jardines-de-el-valle/.
Iguana TV, Imágenes exclusivas comando OLHP en El Valle, 10 March 2017, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-McSzvlLCg.
Ibid., minutes 1:57 and 2:31.
Ibid., minute 2:10.
Ibid., minute 2:34.
Ibid., minute 2:34.
TVV, Militar venezolano usa máscara durante operativo de seguridad, 14 March 2017, minute 0:09,
available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjmhhayBebw.
Notitotal, Prohíben el uso de máscaras y pasamontañas a funcionarios en servicio, 22 March 2017,
video on file with the Mission.
Aporrea, Nueve muertos dejó operativo policial en los Jardines del Valle, Caracas, 10 March 2017,
available at: https://www.aporrea.org/ddhh/n305273.html.
Document C4FF14 on file with the Mission, in which one neighbour said that: “I looked out the
window and saw that in front of my house there were some officials dressed in black going inside the
neighbours’ house. They were knocking down the neighbour’s doors. I watched what was going on”.
Another resident of the neighbourhood confirmed that he “Watched from the house that the officials
were breaking down the bars of the neighbour’s houses”.
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